administrator



S. A. 'NIMSI DECD. L. Afmms. ADMINISTRATOR.

HOSE TESTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. l9l6.

F/q/ 3a Jfuarf ,4. .Nims

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY 3 S A. NIMS, DEC'D. I l.- A. was. ADMINISTRATOR.

HOSE TESTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED,EPIT. I8. 1916.

1,315,325. PatntedSept. 9, 1919.

, SHE EETZ.

HI I I I I I I WITNESSES 2 v V I v INVENTOR W Jfuarf A Mm;

I v v ATTORNEY THE cuLUMnIA PLANOGRAIII cm, WASHINQluN, n. c.

STUART A. ivnvrs, OFMKEENE, 'nnwnaivrrsnnaneigou snl,nnusfaplumisrnarpaon se nsrunnr anrMsQnncEAsnnj; i

To all whom it mag concern:

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Keene, in the county of Gheshire and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Hose-Testing Devices, of "whichithe following is specification. a i it i it t a My invention relates to devices employing fluiclpressure and especially to variablepressure apparatus for testing fire-hose and the like. v y i One object oflny invention is to "provide a device of the above-indicated character which shall admitof the application-of pressure to a hose or other member tobe testedat a predetermined normal value, such as that of city water pressure, or fonvarying the pressure to a certain degree, and which shall permit the retention of successive increments of pressure within predetermined limits.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in an apparatus ofthe class under consideration, a valie member for applying fluid at normal pressure to the hoseto be tested when occupy ngone posltloaand for effecting a variation of applied pressure when occupylng another posltion and a check valve orits equivalent for preventing a return flow of fluid to the valve member,

under predeterminedconditionsi further object of my-invention is to provide a hose-testingdevice whichshall be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and eiiective and reliable in opera tion, and which, moreover; shallpresent a neat and compact appearance and shall be readily portable. u

My invention may reference to the accompanying R drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in frontelevzttion of a hose-testing device constructed in accordance with my presentinventiou; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of a portion of the apparatusthatis shown in Fig. 1; Fig; 3 is a sectional view of a valve member that is illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig; {is a View in rear elevation of myhose-testing def vice, together with the necessary connections to a city water main and to the hose orother device to be tested.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown comprises a hollow cylinder 1 of relatively small diameter; a second hollow cylin r r2 f materially larger diameterwhichis best be understood by a. satel ite sets. 9,1919.

Application filed septe mber 18; 1916: 1 Serial n8: 512Q,6G4.

t "alined with respectto the cylinderl and may Be it known that IfS'lUARTA. NIMS, a]

be secured thereto inany suitable manner to provide a a rigid "construction a suitable supporting standor tripod apparatus 3 that is if associated with the larger cylinder 2 in a mannerfl to be described a four way valve member 4 for governing the operation of the apparatus-in general a plurality of checkv a1ves"or otl1er equivalent devices 5* and that are located in the p1p1ng comiectionsun a manner torbe setforth; aninletipipe or passage? andan exhaust outlet pifpeor passage 1 8 -=between j which "the four-Way valve member 4 is located; ah0se-connect1ng or application outlet 9 tofwhich thelneinber to be tested is suitably secured; a relief valve 10 for; the familiar purpose of preventing the occurrence of as excessive pressure in the apparatus;- andfan indicating device 11 for registering the pressure applied tothe member undergoing test; i f

The smallercylinder 1 is sho wn as located a verticallyabove the other cylinder 2;and the y axes" of: two cylinders are in substantial alinement, as previously mentioned Suitpistonsfa suitable vent-hole 17 is provided in the upper end ofthe larger cyhnder 2.

Suitable elbows Bo r passa es 18 and 19 are as sociated with the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the cylinders 1; and 2 and are fcon-nected to the remainder of the piping systeminamanner tote described; i

The supporting stand 3 may convenlently comprise a plurality of angle members 2Q, thei ipper ends "of Whichare suitably secured 'to' a band 2 1that surrounds the larger cylmder 2 near itsupper end, and which members 'conyer'ge outwardlyto form a stable supportingin'eans; the various members 20 being also connected, near} thelr lower ends, by

means ottie-pieces 22 which arelsuib y bent to pass beneath the larger cylinder 2 flandthusact as an additional support therefor: 'It will be] understood that any other suitable arrangeme i pp n t viceas a whole may beutilized: for example,

the apparatus may be dispos'edin a horizontal position and suitable supporting means therefor be provided, if desi e in j The valve 4 of a -familiar fourway type, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, and

fic'omprlses 'amovable internal member 23, provided with an exterior handle 24, and

having: a plurality of suitably curved in-V H 'ternal passages 25 and 26 fo'r 'reg1'ster1 ng" with, and eifecting communication between,

*adjacent pairs-ofinlets or outlets 27,28a

29 and 30, which aredisposed substantially '90 degrees apart around the circumference of the valve member,;- in; accordance With .2 Alpiping connection from ,of the smaller cylinderl QOIIIPIlSBS; the ela f amiliar construction. 7

the upper end bow 18,,a union 32, elbow 33, T-cormection l34 with which thevalve 10 is associated,

it ,pipej3v5, -T-connction 36 which communicates I with the check valve 5, pipe 37,; elbow v ,38, checkvalve 6, pipe 39, T-connection 40 hose-connecting outlet I v e m mber to which the indicator 11 leads, and the Therlower end of the larger steam is gconne'eted through the-elbow .19 andapipe 12 to the outlet opening 30 ofthe four-way 7' 'familiarconstruction andare adapted to permit fgthe 'flowfv-of' liquid only in the directions indicated by the respective arrows, .for. purposes to be described; The check valve 5 is'disposed between the outlet open- ;ing 28 of the four-way val-vemember'4 and I the-T-connectiom36..-" r

@Thus in the illustrated position of the .valve member 4, communication is; established fromthe main inlet' 'Z throughthe passage25 of-the four+way;valve, the check valve 5,gbeyon g which the communication .7 divides, one branch leading tothe upper {end of the smaller cylinderul and the other branchleading through the checkvalve'fi to the hose-connecting outlet 9, as previously d i ed-V 27 of the f0ur-way valve member," whereas The main inlet pipeor passage shown as directly connected to the inlet opening a pipe 31 is disposed intermediatethe 0pp peor passage 8.

The. hose-connectingoutlet 9 is screw threaded? and of asizeisuitable toreceive the usual end-eonnectionof the type of firehose" or other member tobe tested. i

The water-relief valve isnotessentia to the successful operation of my hose-test ing device, but is merely a safetyappliance and maybe o f any familiar formforceffectingthe-intended function; One opening ,oflthe valve 10 communicates with the T- connection- 34, 7 while the. other opening is connected through pipe41 to a -T-connec- I tion 42 that is located adjacent to the main exhaust outlet 8.- 1- gThe indicating device 11 may be of the well-known Bourdon gage type, or its equivposite outlet eopening and thelexhaust' alent, and is connected through a suitable pipe 43 to the T-connection 40, thus serving to register the pressure applied to the hoseconnecting outlet 9.

In Fig. 4, a pipe 45, which represents a city mainor other suitable source of fluid pressure, is shown as connected through a p1pe'46, a gate-valve or its equivalent 47, and a pipe 48 to the main inlet 7.

It is evident that any other suitable arrangement for conducting fluid to the inlet 7 may be employed, if desired.

A screw-threaded bushing or ring 49 of a familiar type that is disposed upon one end of the fire-hose 50, is screwed on the hose-connecting outlet 9, while a special cap member 51 having a spigot or tap 52 is threaded upon the opposite end of the fire hose. The spigot is provided with the usual operating handle 53, which normally occupics the position that corresponds to the closure of the spigot.

Assuming that the various parts of the apparatus occupy the respective positions shown and that the fire-hose 50 and the cap member 51 are connected to the testing device inthe manner described, the fire-hose may be tested in the following manner.

The gate-valve 47 is opened to admit city .water from the main 45 to the inlet 7 whereupon the liquid flows through the passage of the four-way valve 4- and the check Valve '5 to the T-connection 36, where the streamdivides, one branch flowing through the pipe to the upper end of the smaller cylinder 1, thereby-admitting a filling quantlty of liquid to the cylinder, and the other branch flowing through the pipe 37 and the a filling quantity of liquid to the larger cylinder 2. Since the piston 15 is materially larger than the piston 14, the rigidly connected pistons are gradually forced upwardly by reason of the greater total pressure 1n the cylinder 2, the fluid being pelled fromthe smaller cylinder 1 through the elbow 18, the pipes 35 and 37 and the check valve 6, in accordance with the previously traced piping connection, to the hoseconnecting outlet 9, whereby a predetermined quantity of water isforced into the fire-hose to increase the pressure applied thereto, which increased pressure is maintamed 1n the fire-hose by reason of the fact that return communication of the hose with the remainder of the system is prevented by the check valve 6; Furthermore, the return flow of the fluidexpelled from the smaller cylinder 1 to the four-Way valve member 4 is prevented by the action of the other check valve 5, as will be understood. 1

If onestroke of the piston and the consequent entry of a predetermined volumeof liquid to the fire-hose 50, is insufficient to increase the pressure therein tothe desired amount, owing tothe expansion of the hose,

then the four-Way valve 4may be returned to its first or illustrated position, thus cans ing the piston member 14 tobe downwardly actuated tothe position shown, by reason of the admissionof liquid to thesmaller cylinder, 1, the liquid in the larger cylinder 2 being expelledthrough the pipe 12and the corresponding passage of thefour-Way valve 4 to the exhaust outlet 8; Aquarterturn of the four-Way valve member then again causes the above-mentioned admission of liquid to the larger'cylin'derQ and the expulsion of a predetermined quantity of Water from the smaller cylinder lfinto the fire-hose to further increase the applied pressure. a By repeatingthe above described manipulation or the four-Way valvememher 4, the successivej entrance ofpredeter mined quantities of f liquid tothe fire-hose may be eflecteduntilthedesired testing pressure, as indicated the'gage 11,is attained. "It will be understood that 'the maximum pressure that can be applied to the firehose is equal: to the produ'ctofthe nor mal city Water pressure and the ratio of areas of the*pist0ns 15 and 14, For example, if the ratio of the effective areas of the pistons 15 and 14 is as four to one, thatis, if the diameter of the piston 15 is twice that of the piston 14, and assuming that the city water pressure equals pounds per square inch, then themaximum pressure that canbe applied tothe fire-hose equals 400pounds pergs'quare inch, since at that pressure value, lconditions throughout the testingdevice will be balanced and no further quantity-of liquid can beforcecl into Obviously, the ratio of areas of thepis tons 15, and 14 may be chosen to suit any desiredconditionsyfor example, the hose-test ingidevice may be designedjto raise the normal 1 city Water pressure, "of Whatever value, to approximately-200 a pounds per square inch upon ,a single stroke of the piston, such pressure being the usual testing value in the case of single fifty'foot lengths of fire-hose of 24, diameter. a

a After thefc'ompletion of the test, the gatevalve 47 maybe closed, or preferably the four-Way valve 4 is givenf'a one-eighth turn, to shut oil? the water supply! The spigot 52 is nextnopened to allovv the liquid from the firehose to drain. A "new length bf hose may then" be placed between the hose-ecu total applied pressure may befincreased at I meeting outlet 9 and the closed cap member 51, whereupon the hose-testing device is availableifor another test. 7 i

Shouldfthe pistons 15 and 14 occupy any -position,other than that shown, at thebeginvning ofatesuit will be understood that admission 9 of liquid to the; smaller cylinder 1 under? the above-described initial operating conditions Will immediately actuate the pistons A to, the illustrated positions and subsequent operation conforms to that already described. l i a a I Obviously,either the above-described inlet pipe 7 of the exhaust outlet pipe 8 may beemployed to-conduct fluid from the city mains to the four-Way valvemember 4, and such choice of inlet Will determine the position of the four-Way valve member with respect to the application of normal pressure orincreasedpressure to the fire-hosef 'Ido not Wish to berestricted tothe specific structuraldetails or arrangement of partsherein set forth, asvarious modifications thereof maybe effected Without departing fromthe spirit "and scope of myinvention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as 'are indicated inthe appended claims. a v

I claim as my invention: i

'1. In a device employing fluid-pressure, tliecombination with means for applying pressure to a member at normal value or for varying said pressure to predetermined degree, otmeans independent of said applying means for retaining the pressure appliedto said member, 1

means dependent upon its position for applying pressure to said memberfof mate rially difi erent values, and one vvay valve means for retaining the pressures successivelyappliedto said member, whereby the will by the repeatedmanipulation ofsaid applying means.

3. Ina fluid-pressure;hose-testing device, theconibination with means for efi'ecting the successiveentrance of predetermined quantities of fluid to a hose, 01. means for retainjingsaid quantities irrespective of said first means.

4 111 a fluid-pressure hose-testing device,

the coinbi'nation with nieansiorjeifecting thesuceessiveentrance of aninitial filling i quantity of fluid to a hose and the entrance of success ve ncrements at will, of independent means for retaining said increments in the hose.

1 In a fluid-pressure hose-testing device,

the combination with afplurality of differently-sized operating cylinders, ofrigidl yconnected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, a valve member for initially admitting filling quantities of fluid to a hose l -30 I and both saida olication outlet and a rela "and to a relatively small cylinder and for subsequently.admitting a filling quantity of fluid to a larger cylinder to expelfluid from said relatively small cylinder into said hose, and: means for retaining. successive incrementsiof expelled fluid in said hose as said valve; member is repeatedly. manipulated. :6. Ina fluid-pressureliose=testing device,

the combination witha pair of operating cylinders of materially difierent size, of rigidlyconnected pistons respectivelyadapted to travel therein, a valve member, for initially admitting filling quantities of fluid to a hose and to the smaller cylinder, means for actuating said valve member to a second.

positionto admit a filling quantity of fluid to-the larger cylinder to expel fluid from the smaller cylinderinto said hose, means for 1 preventing the flow of fluid from the smaller cylinder to saidvalve member, and means for preventing the return flowoffluid from said hose, whereby the fluid-pressure applied to the hose may be increased at will to :a value dependent upon tlieratio of areas of said pistons by'the repeated manipulation of said valve member to cause the suc- .CBSSlVG expulsions offlui'd fromthe smaller cyl nder to the hose. a

7. A fluid-pressure device comprising a plurality of differently-sized operating cylinders, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted. to-travel therein, a fluidpressure inlet, anexhaust outlet, an application outlet, a'valve member for initially effecting communication between said. inlet itively small cylinder and for subseouently efiiectingcommunications between said inlet and a lar'ger cylinder, and means for pre venting return. communication of said application outletwith other parts of the device. *8. A fluid-pressure device comprising a pair of 1 operating cylinders of materially different size, rigidly-connected pistons re.- spectively adapted to travel therein, a fluidpressure inlet, anexhaust outlet, an application outlet, afvalve-member for, effectingcommunication, when occupying one posi tion, between said inlet andboth said application outlet and the smaller cylinder and "also between the largerc'ylinder and the exhaust outlet, means for actuating said valve member to a second position to effect communication between said inlet and the larger cylinder, means for preventing return 1 communication of the smaller cvlinder with said'valve'member, and means for preveiitintermediate the inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe, a, piping connection between the smaller cylinder and the hose-connecting outlet,- a piping connection embodying a check valve between said valve member and said first piping connection, a second check valve located in said first piping connection near the hose-connecting outlet, and a piping connection betwee the valve member and the larger cylinder."

10. In adevice employing fluid pressure, the combination with asingle fluid source, of movable means for-applying fluid at normal pressure to a member when occupying one position. and for effecting a variation of appliedpressure when occupying another position, and means for preventing a return flowof fluid to said movable means under predetermined conditions.

.-1 1.-In a hose-testing. device, the combination withfa single fluid source, of means dependent upon its position for applying pressureto a hoseof materially dilferent values, and means for preventing a return flow of fluid to said applying means irrespecti've of the position thereof.

12. Ii -av hose-testing device, the combination with a single-fluid source, of a plurality ofdifi'erently-sized operating cylinders, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, a valve member for initially admittingfilling quantities of fluid to a hose and to a relatively small cylinder andfor subsequently admitting a filling quantity of fluid to a larger cylinder to expel fluid'from said relatively small cylinder into said hose, and means for preventing the flow of fluid from said small cylinder to said valve member.

13.In a hose-testing device, the combination with a single fluid source, of a pair of operating cylinders of materially diflerent size, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, a valve member for initially admitting filling quantities of I fluid to a hose and to the smaller cylinder,

means for actuating said valve member to a second position to admit a filling quantity I of fluid to the larger cylinder to expel fluid from thesmaller cylinder into said hose, and means for-preventing the flow of fluid from the smaller cylinder to said valve member.

14. A fluid-pressure device comprising a plurality of d-ifi'erentlysized operating cylinder sj, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, a fluidpressure inlet, an exhaust outlet, an" application outlet, a valve member for initially effecting communication between said inlet and both said application outlet and a relatively small cylinder and for subsequently eflecting communication between said inlet and a larger cylinder, and means for preventing return communication ofsaid small cylinder with said valve member.

15. A fluid-pressure device comprising a pair of operating cylinders of materially dilferent size, rigidly-connected istons respectively adapted to travel therein, a fluidpressure inlet, an exhaust outlet, an application outlet, a valve-member for effecting communication when occupying one position, between said inlet and both said application outlet and the smaller cylinder and 'also between the larger cylinder and the exhaust outlet, means for actuating said valve member to a second position to eflect communication between said inlet and the larger cylinder, and means for preventing return communication of the smaller cylinder with said valve member.

16. A fluid-pressure device comprising a pair of alined operating cylinders of materially different size, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, an inlet member, an exhaust member, an outlet member, a four-way valve member disposed intermediate the inlet member and the exhaust member, a one-way valve located intermediate said four-way valve member and the smaller cylinder, and a second one-way valve located intermediate said fourway valve member and said outlet member.

17. A fluid-pressure device comprising a pair of alined operating cylinders of materially different size, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, an inlet member, an exhaust member, an out: let member, a four-way valve member disposed intermediate the inlet member and the exhaust member, a one-way valve located in termediate said four-way valve member"'and the smaller cylinder, and a second one-way valve located intermediate said four-way valve member and said outlet member, both of said one-way valves opening away from said four-way valve member.

18. A fluid-pressure device comprising a pair of alined operating cylinders of materially different size, rigidly-connected pistons respectively adapted to travel therein, an inlet member, an exhaust member, an outlet member, a four-way valve member disposed intermediate the inlet member and the exhaust member, and a one-way valve located intermediate said four-way valve member and said outlet member and opening away from thefour-way valve member. a

19. Afluid-pressure device comprising a pair of alined operating cylinders of materially different size, rigidly-connected piS- tons respectively adapted to travel therein, an inlet member an exhaust member, an outlet member, a our-way valve member disposed intermediatethe inlet member and the exhaust member, and a one-Way valve located intermediate said four-way valve mem her and the smaller cylinder and opening away from the four-way valve member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of September 1916. STUART A. NIMS.

flop 1cm of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 Iatents, Waahington, D. 0. v 

